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Acquisitions, Divestitures and Discontinued Operations Acquisitions and Divestitures (Notes)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]  
Mergers, Acquisitions and Dispositions Disclosures [Text Block]
Acquisitions and Divestitures
Acquisition of Granite Ridge Energy Center
On February 5, 2016, we, through our indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary Calpine Granite Holdings, LLC, completed the purchase of Granite Ridge Energy Center, a power plant with a nameplate capacity of 745 MW (summer peaking capacity of 695 MW), from Granite Ridge Holdings, LLC, for approximately $500 million, excluding working capital adjustments. The addition of this modern, efficient, natural gas-fired, combined-cycle power plant will increase capacity in our East segment, specifically the constrained New England market. Beginning operations in 2003, Granite Ridge Energy Center is located in Londonderry, New Hampshire and features two combustion turbines, two heat recovery steam generators and one steam turbine. We funded the acquisition with a combination of cash on hand and financing, and the purchase price will be primarily allocated to property, plant and equipment.
Acquisition of Champion Energy
On October 1, 2015, we, through our indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary Calpine Energy Services Holdco, LLC, completed the purchase of Champion Energy Marketing, LLC from a subsidiary of Crane Champion Holdco, LLC, which owned a 75% interest, and EDF Trading North America, LLC, which owned a 25% interest, for approximately $240 million, excluding working capital adjustments. Champion Energy, a leading retail electric provider, served approximately 22 million MWh of commercial, industrial, governmental and residential customer load in 2015, concentrated in Texas, the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic where we have a substantial power generation presence. The addition of this well-established retail sales organization is consistent with our stated goal of getting closer to our end-use customers and provides us a valuable sales channel for directly reaching a much greater portion of the load we seek to serve. The purchase price was funded with cash on hand and any excess of the purchase price over the fair values of Champion Energy’s assets and liabilities was recorded as goodwill; however, the goodwill we recorded as a result of this acquisition was immaterial. The results of Champion Energy are reflected in the segment which corresponds with the geographic area in which the retail sales occur. The pro forma incremental impact of Champion Energy on our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 is not material.
The following table summarizes the consideration paid for the Champion Energy acquisition and the preliminary determination of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the October 1, 2015 acquisition date (in millions):
Consideration
$
296

 
 
Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed:
 
Assets:
 
Current assets
$
240

Property, plant and equipment, net
5

Intangible assets(1)
575

Other long-term assets
46

Total assets acquired
866

Liabilities:
 
Current liabilities
396

Long-term liabilities
174

Total liabilities assumed
570

Net assets acquired
$
296

____________
(1) The intangible assets are recorded in other assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheet and consist primarily of acquired customer contracts, which are being amortized over various contract terms, and customer relationships and trade name which are being amortized over seven and 15 years, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2015, we recorded amortization expense of $71 million related to these intangible assets.
Acquisition of Fore River Energy Center
On November 7, 2014, we, through our indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary Calpine Fore River Energy Center, LLC, completed the purchase of Fore River Energy Center, a power plant with a capacity of 731 MW, and related plant inventory from a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation, for approximately $530 million, excluding working capital adjustments. The addition of this modern, efficient, natural gas-fired, combined-cycle power plant increased capacity in our East segment, specifically the constrained New England market. Built in 2003, Fore River Energy Center is located in North Weymouth, Massachusetts and features two combustion turbines, two heat recovery steam generators and one steam turbine. Both turbines feature dual-fuel capability that will enable them to run on either natural gas or fuel oil, depending on market conditions. The purchase price was funded with cash on hand and primarily allocated to property, plant and equipment. The purchase price allocation was finalized during the third quarter of 2015 which did not result in any material adjustments or the recognition of goodwill. The pro forma incremental impact of Fore River Energy Center on our results of operations for each of the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 is not material.
Acquisition of Guadalupe Energy Center
On February 26, 2014, we, through our indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary Calpine Guadalupe GP, LLC, completed the purchase of a power plant owned by MinnTex Power Holdings, LLC with a capacity of 1,000 MW, for approximately $625 million, excluding working capital adjustments. The addition of this modern, natural gas-fired, combined-cycle power plant increased capacity in our Texas segment, which is one of our core markets. The 110-acre site, located in Guadalupe County, Texas, which is northeast of San Antonio, Texas, includes two 525 MW generation blocks, each consisting of two GE 7FA combustion turbines, two heat recovery steam generators and one GE steam turbine. We also paid $15 million to acquire rights to an advanced development opportunity for an approximately 400 MW quick-start, natural gas-fired peaker. We funded the acquisition with $425 million in incremental CCFC Term Loans and cash on hand. See Note 6 for a further description of the incremental CCFC Term Loans. The purchase price was primarily allocated to property, plant and equipment and was finalized during the third quarter of 2014 which did not result in any material adjustments to the preliminary purchase price allocation nor the recognition of any goodwill. The pro forma incremental impact of Guadalupe Energy Center on our results of operations for each of the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 is not material.
Sale of Osprey Energy Center
During the fourth quarter of 2014, we executed an asset sale agreement for the sale of our Osprey Energy Center to Duke Energy Florida, Inc. for approximately $166 million, excluding working capital and other adjustments. In accordance with the asset sale agreement, the sale will be consummated in January 2017 upon the conclusion of PPA with a term of 27 months. In July 2015, the transaction was approved by the FERC and the Florida Public Service Commission. This sale represents a strategic disposition of a power plant in a wholesale power market dominated by regulated utilities. The assets of Osprey Energy Center, which is in our East segment, are reported as long-term assets held for sale on our Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2015 and comprise property, plant and equipment, net.
Sale of Six Power Plants
On July 3, 2014, we completed the sale of six of our power plants in our East segment to NatGen Southeast Power LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of LS Power Equity Partners III. The purchase and sale agreement, dated April 17, 2014, stipulates the sale of 100% of the limited liability company interests in (i) Mobile Energy LLC, (ii) Santa Rosa Energy Center, LLC, (iii) Carville Energy, LLC, (iv) Decatur Energy Center, LLC, (v) Columbia Energy LLC and (vi) Calpine Oneta Power, LLC and thereby sell assets comprising 3,498 MW of combined-cycle generation capacity in Oklahoma, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida and South Carolina for a sale price of approximately $1.57 billion in cash, plus approximately $2 million for working capital and other adjustments at closing. The divestiture of these power plants has better aligned our asset base with our strategic focus on competitive wholesale markets.
We recorded a gain on sale of assets, net of approximately $753 million during the third quarter of 2014 and used existing federal and state NOLs to almost entirely offset the projected taxable gains from the sale. The sale of the six power plants did not meet the criteria for treatment as discontinued operations.
The six power plants included in the transaction are as follows:
Plant Name
 
Plant Capacity
 
Location
Oneta Energy Center
 
1,134

MW
 
Coweta, OK
Carville Energy Center(1)
 
501

MW
 
St. Gabriel, LA
Decatur Energy Center
 
795

MW
 
Decatur, AL
Hog Bayou Energy Center
 
237

MW
 
Mobile, AL
Santa Rosa Energy Center
 
225

MW
 
Pace, FL
Columbia Energy Center(1)
 
606

MW
 
Calhoun County, SC
Total
 
3,498

MW
 
 
___________
(1)
Indicates combined-cycle cogeneration power plant.